State: Three Delawareans have died from the flu, marking first deaths of 2018-2019 season

On Thursday, Christiana Care Health System is attempting to vaccinate all 12,000 employees with the flu shot.
Jennifer Corbett, Wilmington

Matilda Cruz administers a flu shot into the arm of a woman visiting the annual free flus shot event held by the Division of Public Health at the Porter State Service Center.(Photo: Jennifer Corbett, The News Journal)

Three Sussex County residents have died from complications of the flu, marking the first deaths of the flu season, state health officials said Wednesday.

A 65-year-old man died from the flu last week and a 73-year-old man and a 77-year-old woman died within the past week, officials said. All three were infected with the Influenza A strain and had underlying health conditions.

According to the most recent data, state officials have confirmed 461 cases of the flu in Delaware as of Dec. 22. Officials believe the overall number is likely much higher.

So far this flu season, 80 people have been hospitalized with flu-like symptoms. This is an increase from the previous season when there were 225 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza and 63 hospitalizations, health officials said.

It often makes people sicker and sometimes causes an intense reaction from the body's immune system, during which the lungs can become inflamed and airways can be blocked.

Common flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches and body aches, chills and fatigue, the state said. Those who have the flu should stay home from work and social gatherings until their fever is gone for at least 24 hours.

Doctors say the best way to prevent getting the flu is to get the flu shot. It's important to get vaccinated as early as possible because it takes about two weeks after receiving the vaccine for antibodies that protect against the virus to develop in the body.

Experts say people can't get the flu from the vaccine.

The Division of Public Health will hold a free flu vaccine clinic from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 16 in the basement floor Library in Legislative Hall at 410 Legislative Ave in Dover.

For more information about the flu or where to get a vaccine, go to www.flu.delaware.gov or call 800-282-8672.